Boiler



Feb. 6, 1940.

J. E. BRANTLY BOILER Original Filed Sept. 20, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q lnvenlor. John E. Branil y.

' .flitorn e5.

Feb. 6, 1940.

J. E. BRANTLY BOILER Original Filed Sept. 20, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17200 211601. John E.Brcznlll/.

Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UN STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 20, 1937,.Serial No. 164,673 Renewed January 3, 1939 17 Claims.

This invention has to do in a general way with vapor generating units, and is more particularly related to improvements in steam boilers. The improved boiler construction contemplated by this invention has been designed particularly for use in connection with oil field service, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to I through which one or more tubes extend for the passage of combustion gases from the fire box to the smoke box or chimney. The boiler feed water is generally admitted on the side of the barrel near the front or smoke box end of the unit andthe movement thereafter occurs relatively slowly by'convection alone, due .to' difierences in temperatures at various parts of the boiler. The lack of directed movement of the water through a predetermined course at a velocity necessary for eficient heat transfer, greatly increases the required area of heating surface per boiler horse power.

,-It is an Iimportant object of the invention to provide aboiler design which will expose more I heating surface with thinner walls to the gases of combustion where the highest temperature is obtained and to so. direct the water within the boiler that it. will pass over the surfaces exposed to the hottest gases at a velocity which will sweep the bubbles of generated steam that ordinarily adhere to such surfaces, into the steam chamber.

u into' h b rsl a water jacket or water legs, and aybarrel the barrel through tubes which extend longitudi- 5 I nally within the side legs. Water is directed from the tubes upwardly along the outer surfaces of the side plates of the fire box soas to sweep the insulating steam bubbles therefrom as they are formed. I

It is also an object of my invention to. provide the barrel of the boiler with baffle means so arranged as to cause the feed water to. follow a path which traverses the fire tubes in the barrel so as to most efliciently utilize the heat from the products of combustion passing through such fire tubes, and at the same time to provide what is in effect a settling chamber within the barrel in which the sediment and precipitate released .upon heating of the water will be deposited for readyremoval. H

Further, as a matter of portability and ready erection, the tubes and the combustion chamber or firebox are designed for unit construction. whichisaccomplished by jacketing the fire box 25 with water, as is done in the locomotivetype boiler, instead of brick as in the ordinary stationaryunit. I II The details in the construction of atypical andpreferred embodiment of my invention, will 30 be best understood from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which: I j

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through'the boiler;

Figs. 2,3 and l'are cross sections onlin'es 22, 3" 3 and l-t, respectively, of Fig. 1; and

'. "Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing an arrangement of nozzles within the lower ends of theside water legs.

"In the particular, embodiment of the invention chosen for purposeswof illustration, the iboiler has two principal sections, the fire box F, and the barrel A, the latter preferably being cylindric in form and associated with the smoke box-B and stack C. The fire box F is defined by a crown sheet II, side plates [2 and I2" (seeFigs. .3 and l) and an end plate l3. A-jacket, generally indicated at It, surrounds the fire box and encloses the steam chamber S above the crown sheet H. The jacket also forms with side plates l2, l2 and the end plate lit, the side water legs L and L and the'end leg E. The latter is provided with a ,firing opening I! equippedwith a doorl8,-and

the whole boiler unit is shown to be mounted on skids I9.

interposed between the fire box F and the barrel A is a tube sheet 2| completely covering the end of the fire box and separating the barrel from the side water legs L and L. At the inner end of the barrel, wall 23 and the mud sill M form with the tube sheet 22 a drop chamber D through which communication is established between the barrel and the water distributing tubes extending within the side water legs, as will later appear. The outer end of the barrel is closed from the smoke box B by a second tube sheet 25. Extending longitudinally through the barrel A and expanded into tube sheets 2! and 25 are the fire tubes 27 through which hot gases pass from the fire box to the stack C, as indicated by the arrows. I

The boiler feed water is admitted to the barrel through pipe 36 provided with the usual check valve 3| and gate valve 32. Upon entering the barrel, the feed water is directed upwardly about the cooler portion of the fire tubes 2'! by an inclined baffle li t. The water then follows a downward path of flow in contact with the hotter portions of the fire tubes into the chamber below the tubes, wherein any precipitated solids initially suspended in the water or precipitated at the elevated temperatures, are caused to settle out by reason of the reduced velocity of flow through the chamber. The settling out is facilitated by means of a second bafile 35 interposed between the fire tubes and the outlet chamber D.

Unlike conventional boiler constructions of this general type, in the present boiler the barrel is completely isolated from the water legs except for communications via the water tubes. The purpose of this arrangement is to set up circulation at velocity sufficiently high to sweep the heating surfaces free of accumulated steam bubbles which otherwise would have an insulating efiect and impair the operating efficiency of the boiler. After being preheated by passage through the barrelA in contact with the fire tubes, the water reaching the chamber D is conducted to the rear leg E of the boiler through a plurality of water tubes 40. These tubes have their inlet ends extending through the tube sheet 2'! below baffle 35, and thence extend upwardly and longitudinally through the fire chamber to terminate in sheet 13 of the rear water leg E.

In addition to water tubes 40, I provide within the side legs L and L of the boiler one or more horizontally extending water tubes '41 which are positioned near the mud rim. These tubes open through the bottom portion of the tube sheet 2! on either side thereof, and extend through to the water legs E where "they open through the end plate or tube sheet extensions I30 which serve'merely to support the end of'said tube as indicated in Fig. 5. Tubes 4!, which I may term the water leg tubes, are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced nozzles 42 (see Figs. 4 and 5) through which the cooler water within the bases of the legs is directed upwardly along the surfaces of side plates 12 and I2 of the fire box. It will be understood that the number of these water leg tubes 4i may be increased, depending upon the height of the boiler, by providing additional tubes at vertically spaced intervals to insure a positive sweeping action against the entire vertical side surfaces of the plates exposed to the heat of the fire box.

The fire box is shown to be provided with a burner or grate of any conventional construction, indicated generally at G and a fire wall 45 associated with a refractory base 46 in the rear of the fire box, all of which is supported in any suitable manner, as by means of a bottom plate 41. A refractory ballle 4B is positioned above the water tubes so that the products of combustion are caused to pass around either end thereof, and on out through the fire tubes 21, as indicated by the full line arrows in Fig. 1.

As indicated above, the feed water is thoroughly preheated within the barrel in twice traversing the fire tubes in a path of flow determined by the bafiles 34 and By completely separating the barrel from the water legs, and connecting the barrel with the water legs through the water tubes, the water is positively directed in definitely confined paths through the water tubes into the legs which surround the fire box. The steam bubbles forming on the walls of the fire box and within the walls of the water tubes, are instantly and constantly swept free of such walls by this positive circulation, and are released into the top of the steam chamher 5 having the conventional steam dome 50. This steam dome has an outlet connection indicated at 5i and, if desired, such connection may be attached to a superheating coil, indicated generally at 52, and positioned upon the refractory bafile 48.

The convection currents and the release of steam within the water legs causes a substantial expansion within the body of water contained therein, and in the present invention I make use of such expansion to further facilitate the circulation or flow of water through the boiler. This is accomplished by extending the tube sheet 21 upwardly to the mean water line within the steam chamber indicated by reference letter W. Due to the expansion in the steam chamber the water level therein will always be somewhat higher than the water level within the boiler, and as expansion occurs, the increased water level will cause a spill-over above the upper edge of the tube sheet 2| or suitable openings provided therein, into the barrel. Thus the spill-over is effective to further increase the positive circulation through the boiler.

The boiler is shown to be provided with hand holes generally indicated at 55, positioned for convenient access to the various tubes, and with man holes 5'6 to permit ready access to the chambers of the boiler. The usual stay bolts are indicated at 58, and the conventional water gage and steam -gage at '59 and 60, respectively.

It will be understood that while I have herein described and illustrated one preferred embodiment of my invention, the invention is not iimited to the precise details of construction described above, but includes within its scope what ever changes fairly come within the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a boiler or the like, the combination of a barrel; a smoke box at one end of said barrel; a fire box at the other end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber th'ereabove and water legs at the rear end and atthe two sides of said fire box; a'tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; water tubes opening through said tube sheet and communicating between said barrel and said water legs-at the rear of the fire box; and fire tubes opening through said tube sheet and extending "through said barrel into said smoke box.

2; In a boiler'or the like, the combination of: a barrel; a smoke box at one end of said barrel; a'fire box at the other end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating-said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; fire tubes opening through said'tube sheet and extending through said barrel to said smoke box; and water tubes opening through said-tube sheet and communicating between said barrel and said water legs at the rear of the 'fire box, some of said water tubes extending through said water legs.

3. In a boiler or the like, thecombination of: a

barrel; a smoke box at one end of said barrel; a

fire box at the other end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; fire tubes opening through said tube sheet and extending through said barrel into said smoke box; and water tubes communicating with said barrel through said tube sheet and extending through said fire box into a water leg. I

4. In a boiler or the like, the combination of a barrel; a smoke box at one end of said barrel; a fire box at the other end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; fire tubes opening through said tube sheet and extending through said barrel to said smoke box; and water tubes opening through said tube sheet and communicating between said barrel and said water legs at the rear of the fire box, some of said water tubes extending through said water legs and having discharge openings therein.

5. In a boileror the like, the combination of: a barrel; a smoke box at one end of said barrel; a fire box at the other end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; fire tubes opening through said tube sheet and extending through said bar rel to said smoke box; and water tubes opening through said tube sheet and communicating between said barrel and said water legs at the rear of the fire box, some of said water tubes extending within said water legs and having discharge openings therein'for directing water upwardly against the outer surface of said fire box.

6. In a boiler or the like, the combination of a barrel; a smoke box at one end of said barrel; a fire box at the other end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; fire tubes opening through said tube sheet and extending through said barrel to said smoke box; and water tubes opening through said tube sheet and communicating between said barrel and said water legs at the rear of the fire box, some of said water tubes extending through said water legs; and nozzle a barrel; a smoke box at one end of said barrel;

a fire box at the other end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said *barrel from said fire box and said legs; fire tubes opening through said tube sheet and extending through said barrel to said smoke box; water tubes opening through said tube sheet into said barrel and communicating with said water legs; and means positioned substantially at the mean water level in said steam chamber for passing water from said steam chamber to said barrel.

8. In a boiler or the like, the combination of: v

a barrel; a smoke box at one end of said barrel; a fire box at the other end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said legs; fire tubes opening through said tube sheet and extending through said barrel to said smoke box; water tubes opening through said tube sheet into said barrel and comunicating with said Water legs; an upper edge of said tube sheet terminating substantially at the mean water level in said steam chamber whereby water may spill over said edge from the steam chamber into said barrel.

9. In a boiler orthe like, the combination of a barrel; a smoke box at one end of said barrel; 2. fire box at the other end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; fire tubes opening through said tube sheet and extending through said barrel to said smoke box; and water tubes opening through said tube sheet and communicating between said bar-' rel and said water legs at the rear of the fire box, some of said water tubes extending through said water legs, the upper end of said tube sheet terminating substantially at the mean water level in said steam chamber whereby water may spill over from the steam chamber into said barrel.

10. In a boiler or the like, the combination of a barrel; a smoke box at one end of said barrel; a fire box at the other end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rearendand at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; fire tubes opening through said. tube sheet and extending'through said barrel to said smoke box; and water tubes opening through said tube sheet and communicating between said barrel and said water legs at the rear chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and .at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; water tubes opening through said tube sheet and communicating between said barrel and said water legs at the rear of the fire box; fire tubes opening through said tube sheet and extending through said barrel into said smoke box; a feed water inlet in said barrel; and bailie means interposed between said feed Water inlet and said tube sheet whereby the path of water flow is caused to traverse said fire tubes.

12. In a boiler, the combination of: a barrel; 9. fire box at one end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; and water tubes communicating between said barrel and said water legs at the rear of the fire box.

13. In a boiler, the combination of: a barrel; a fire box at one end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; and water tubes communicating between said barrel and said water legs at the rear of the fire box, some of said water tubes extending through said side water legs.

14. In a boiler, the combination of: a barrel; a fire box at one end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and Water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; water tubes communicating between said barrel and said rear water leg; and water tubes extending within said side water legs and having openings therein for discharging water upwardly along the outer side surface of said fire box,

15. In a boiler, the combination of: a barrel; a fire box at one end of said barrel; jacket means surrounding said fire box forming a steam chamber thereabove and water legs at the rear end and at the two sides of said fire box; a tube sheet separating said barrel from said fire box and said side legs; water tubes communicating between said barrel and said water legs at the rear of the fire box, and means for conducting water from said barrel into said side legs and directing such water at relatively high velocity upwardly along the outer surface of said fire box.

16. In a boiler, the combination comprising Walls forming a fire box, outer walls spaced from said fire box forming a steam chamber and a water leg extending below the steam chamber and directly exposed to the side of the fire box wall, means forming a water chamber outside said fire box, a feed water supply line connecting with said water chamber, a tube sheet between said water chamber and the Water leg, water tubes extending through said tube sheet and fire box and delivering water from said water chamber into the space between said outer walls and the fire box, and a conduit for discharging water from said Water chamber through said tube sheet into the lower portion of said water leg and upwardly therein along the surface of the fire box Wall.

1'7. In a boiler, the combination comprising Walls forming a fire box, outer Walls spaced from said fire box forming a steam chamber and a vertically extending water leg below the steam chamber and directly exposed to the side of the fire box wall, means forming a water chamber, a feed water supply line connecting with said water chamber, a tube sheet between said water chamber and the water leg, Water tubes extending through said tube sheet and fire box and delivering Water from said water chamber through said tube sheet into the space between said outer walls and the fire box, a nozzle for directing water upwardly within said water leg and in a rapid flowing stream along the surface of the fire box wall, and a conduit through said tube sheet for conducting water from said water chamber to the nozzle.

JOHN E. BRANTLY. 

